UNICEF welcomes Japan’s emergency grant in support of children in Gaza

RAMALLAH, occupied Palestinian territory, 31 December 2012 – The Government of Japan is contributing USD $1,5 million as part of UNICEF’s emergency response to the needs of children and women in Gaza, following the 8-day escalation of violence last month.

The Japanese grant will allow UNICEF to provide essential paediatric emergency drugs and medical disposables to Gaza hospitals, to repair damaged water networks and generators, to rehabilitate more than 30 damaged schools and to provide learning materials to students. It will also allow UNICEF to replenish prepositional stocks in Gaza in order to stand ready to respond to children’s needs in case of emergency.

“We want to thank the Government and the people of Japan for their enduring commitment to Palestinian children,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF-oPt Special Representative. She stressed that this emergency grant came less than one year after Japan gave nearly USD $16 million to provide critical support to women and children in the occupied Palestinian territory, in partnership with UNICEF.

“We hope this will contribute to the stabilization of the situation in Gaza that is important for the progress of the Middle East Peace Process" said Mr. Junya Matsuura, Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority.

At the global level, Japan is one of the five largest contributors to UNICEF.